Polymerization strategies to produce new polymer biocatalysts for the biodiesel industry

One of the major challenges regarding the enzymatic production of biodiesel is the development of more robust, active, and stable immobilized biocatalysts. Thus, the present work aims to develop new enzymatic biocatalysts for use in esterification and transesterification reactions. New polymer supports based on poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-divinylbenzene) platforms were synthesized, incorporating distinct functional compounds into the polymer chains (1-octene, cardanol, and vinyl benzoate). Two distinct polymerization strategies were adopted for support syntheses: (i) Combined suspension and emulsion polymerization process (core-shell particles); and (ii) Two-step polymerization reaction comprising a suspension polymerization in presence of porogenic agents, followed by vacuum application (porous and nonporous particles). The obtained particles were employed for immobilization of lipase B from Candida antarctica. The addition of functional compounds resulted in particles with distinct textural properties. Moreover, particles with 91 m(2).g(-1) (P(MMA-co-DVB)/P(MMA-co-DVB)) were produced through combined suspension and emulsion polymerization, whilst particles with 154 m(2).g(-1) (P[MMA-co-DVB-co-VB]) were produced through suspension polymerization performed in presence of n-heptane. Moreover, highly active biocatalysts were produced, leading to esterification conversions above 80%. Thus, based on the performance in esterification and transesterification reactions, the new functional matrices resulted in highly active biocatalysts with good potential for use in biodiesel industry.